Hale Breaks Lap Record, Wins AFM Formula Pacific Race At Thunderhill

Lenny Hale (139) leads Chris Siglin (488) and Martin Szwarc (2) through the esses on the first lap of the Formula Pacific race at Thunderhill Raceway. Photo by Max Klein/Oxymoronphotography.com, courtesy of AFM.

Hale Breaks Away, Catching Streak continues as records fall

The conditions at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA, on the weekend of August 9-10 proved to be the ideal blend for records to be set as RaceFuelz/CT Racing Pirelli/Mach 1/Yamaha AFM series entered its fifth round of the season. The temperatures stayed below 100 F and the slightest of breezes meant that the track was hot, but not too hot as the bikes took to the track.

The 250 Superbike riders were the first to make a run at lap records in what has proven to be one of the most competitive classes. Dave Moss was able to get out in front early, while behind him four riders all vied for the number two spot. Paul Johnson sought to reel in Moss and set a blistering pace of 2:06.908; however, Valentine Welch drove past Brian Bartlow to take third and matched Johnson's pace. As Johnson had his sights on Moss, Welch showed Johnson a wheel again and again. While the two riders battled it out for second place, Moss flew past the finish line first with Johnson and Welch not far behind.

Open Superbike once again served as a preview for Formula Pacific as Lenny Hale shot past the leaders on a blazing fast entrance to turn 2 on the first lap and lead the rest of the race on his KFG Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000. Hale seemed to find new confidence with his US Spec Dunlops and was not threatened for the rest of the race. While Hale got away at the front, Chris Siglin and Ricky Corey battled it out for second place. Corey was also experimenting with different tire combinations, running both the US and UK spec Dunlop tires on the RCR Yamaha R1. Siglin stuck with his Pirellis and turned to multiple AMA class champion Jake Zemke to receive extra coaching that allowed him to take his Fastline Performance BMW to second place with Corey in a close third.

After the lunch break, the crowd gathered on the wall to see who would prevail in the premier class, Formula Pacific. With four different winners in the four previous rounds, it was any one's guess who would come out on top. As the flag dropped, Siglin, Hale and Corey all got good starts from the front row and Martin Szwarc jumped into the mix on his MC tech/Pirelli Kawasaki ZX10, taking second place into turn 1. As turn 2 approached for the first time, Hale again seemed to continue to drive while the rest of the leaders got on the brakes and set himself up for an outside pass for the lead going through the long, left hand corner. Hale put the hammer down and broke away, dropping down to a lap record 1:47.207. Behind Hale, Siglin worked his way around Szwarc and dropped into the 1:47's as well, but Hale's riding was flawless and he clicked off lap after lap and record pace.

The battle became one for second place as Corey took third place and reeled in Siglin. Corey got progressively faster and then showed why he wears the number 1 place as he got around Siglin and started to build a small cushion. The two riders would remain in those positions for the rest of the race. Not far behind, Sebastio Ferreira built more speed lap after lap and was able to capture forth place in the final lap, with Szwarc in a close fifth.

The next record to fall would come from the AP Moto-Arts team as Jason Catching piloted his AP Moto-Arts/Riley’s Brewing/Pirelli Suzuki SV650 to a 1:54.852 in the 650 Twins race. Catching made the statement earlier in the day that he wasn't just there to win his races, he was looking for a lap record. Not only did he set the lap record, he also swept all four of his races to continue his unbroken streak.

Devon McDonogh was the big winner in the middleweight races, taking the checkered flag first in Formula 1, 750 Production and 600 Production on his Yamaha YZF-R6 on Pirellis. Cameron Gish and Deion Campbell each took a win in 600 Superbike and 750 Superbike, respectively.